Comparing and Provisioning Configurations for a Client Having a Windows-Based Embedded Image

1. An apparatus for comparing and provisioning configurations for a local client having a windows-based embedded image, the apparatus comprising: a processor; a computer readable medium communicatively coupled to the processor; and computer-executable instructions encoded in the computer readable medium, the instructions, when executed by the processor, operable to perform operations comprising: locating, each time the local client boots up, a remote repository server containing a new configuration file; obtaining, each time the local client boots up, the new configuration file from the remote repository server; obtaining, each time the local client boots up, a previous configuration file associated with a previous configuration change successfully applied to the windows-based embedded image; comparing the new configuration file with the previous configuration file; and applying, to the windows-based embedded image, one of a new configuration change and the previous configuration change based on the comparison; wherein the new configuration change is based on the new configuration file; and wherein reinstallation of an entire windows-based embedded image onto the local client is obviated.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein, if the new configuration file is the same as the previous configuration file, then the computer-executable instructions encoded in the computer readable medium are operable, when executed by the processor, to apply the previous configuration change to the windows-based embedded image based on the previous configuration file; and wherein, if the new configuration file is different from the previous configuration file, then the computer-executable instructions encoded in the computer readable medium are operable, when executed by the processor, to apply the new configuration change to the windows-based embedded image based on the new configuration file.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the windows-based embedded image supports a graphical user interface and comprises an operating system and one or more applications.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein after each reboot of the local client is initiated, the computer-executable instructions encoded in the computer readable medium are operable, when executed by the processor, to automatically apply one of the new configuration change and the previous configuration change to the windows-based embedded image to allow one of the new configuration change and the previous configuration change to appear, to a user of the local client, to be persistent across a reboot of the local client.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the previous configuration change is a last successfully applied change to the windows-based embedded image.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the windows-based embedded image comprises a write-filter that, when enabled, prevents one or more changes applied to the windows-based embedded image from persisting across a reboot of the local client.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the computer-executable instructions encoded in the computer readable medium are operable, when executed by the processor, to apply one of the new configuration change and the previous configuration change to the windows-based embedded image while the write-filter is enabled.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the computer-executable instructions encoded in the computer readable medium are operable, when executed by the processor, to save, while the write-filter is enabled, the previous configuration file into a storage area that is to be retained on the local client across a reboot of the local client.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein after each reboot of the local client is initiated, the computer-executable instructions encoded in the computer readable medium are operable, when executed by the processor, to automatically locate the repository server containing the new configuration file, to automatically obtain the new configuration file, and to automatically obtain the previous configuration file associated with the previous configuration change.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the new configuration change and the previous configuration change comprises at least one of the following: a configuration change to a remote desktop connection, a configuration change to a device of the local client, and a configuration change to the operating system of the local client.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein after a reboot of the local client is initiated, the computer-executable instructions encoded in the computer readable medium are operable, when executed by the processor, to automatically apply, without intervention from a user of the local client, the previous configuration change based on the previous configuration file saved in a storage area that is retained on the local client across a reboot of the local client, to allow the previous configuration change to appear, to the user of the local client, to be persistent across a reboot of the local client.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the new configuration file and the previous configuration file comprises an XML configuration file.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the computer-executable instructions encoded in the computer readable medium are operable, when executed by the processor, to obtain address information of the repository server using at least one of a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) and a domain name system (DNS).

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein computer-executable instructions encoded in the computer readable medium are operable, when executed by the processor, to obtain address information of the repository server from a local registry of the local client.

15. A method for comparing and provisioning configurations for a local client having a windows-based embedded image, the method comprising: locating, each time the local client boots up, a remote repository server containing a new configuration file; obtaining, at the local client each time the local client boots up, the new configuration file from the remote repository server; obtaining, at the local client each time the local client boots up, a previous configuration file associated with a previous configuration change successfully applied to the windows-based embedded image; comparing the new configuration file with the previous configuration file; and applying, to the windows-based embedded image, one of a new configuration change and the previous configuration change based on the comparison; wherein the new configuration change is based on the new configuration file; and wherein reinstallation of an entire windows-based embedded image onto the local client is obviated.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the applying comprises: applying the previous configuration change to the windows-based embedded image based on the previous configuration file if the new configuration file is the same as the previous configuration file, and applying the new configuration change to the windows-based embedded image based on the new configuration file if the new configuration file is different from the previous configuration file.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the windows-based embedded image supports a graphical user interface and comprises an operating system and one or more applications.

18. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium encoded with instructions executable by a processing system to perform a method for comparing and provisioning configurations for a local client having a windows-based embedded image, the instructions comprising code for: locating, each time the local client boots up, a remote repository server containing a new configuration file; obtaining, at the local client each time the local client boots up, the new configuration file from the remote repository server; obtaining, at the local client each time the local client boots up, a previous configuration file associated with a previous configuration change successfully applied to the windows-based embedded image; comparing the new configuration file with the previous configuration file; and applying, to the windows-based embedded image, one of a new configuration change and the previous configuration change based on the comparison; wherein the new configuration change is based on the new configuration file; and wherein reinstallation of an entire windows-based embedded image onto the local client is obviated.

19. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein, if the new configuration file is the same as the previous configuration file, then the instructions encoded in the machine-readable storage medium further comprise code for applying the previous configuration change to the windows-based embedded image based on the previous configuration file; and wherein, if the new configuration file is different from the previous configuration file, then the instructions encoded in the machine-readable storage medium further comprise code for applying the new configuration change to the windows-based embedded image based on the new configuration file.

20. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the windows-based embedded image supports a graphical user interface and comprises an operating system and one or more applications.